July 15, 2005- The Proton launcher celebrates the 40th anniversary of its first launch on July 16. Initially known as UR-500, the vehicle was originally conceived to serve as both an intercontinental ballistic missile and a space launch vehicle.The first four flights lofted “Proton” satellites, and the vehicle then adopted that name. From the two-stage configuration of its early years, the Proton has grown to the three- and four-stage workhorse of the Russian fleet.
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